open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his
“leadership position to follow the ‘Namibia example’ by urgently issuing
an executive order to ban the purchase of new cars by the presidency,
and all ministers for the remainder of the tenure of your
administration, that is, until May 2023.”

SERAP urged him to “use the savings from this ban to support students of
tertiary institutions across the country to reduce the impact of
COVID-19 and the lockdown on them and their parents, and to improve
access to healthcare for all Nigerians. We also urge you to encourage
the National Assembly and governors to ban the purchase of new cars and
to use the savings to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners’
entitlements.”

Namibia’s president Hage Geingobon had last week reportedly imposed a
five-year ban on buying of new cars for top politicians and government
officials in order to redirect the funds to fight COVID-19 in his
country.

In the letter dated 16 May 2020, and signed by SERAP deputy director
Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has
reinforced the urgent need for high-ranking public officials and
politicians to demonstrate the constitutional oaths of absolute loyalty
to the public interest and the common good. As trustees of Nigerians’
public funds, your government, the National Assembly and governors are
accountable to the public for the use of those funds.”

SERAP said: “The expenditure of public funds requires the highest degree
of public trust. It is the constitutional duty of every public official
to protect and preserve the public interest in public spending.”

According to SERAP: “Imposing a ban on new cars by the presidency,
ministers and encouraging the National Assembly and governors to do the
same would serve the public interest, and contribute to cutting the cost
of governance.”

The letter read, in part: “The constitutional oaths of office by public
officials include the responsibility to prioritise the well-being of
Nigerians.

“Copying the Namibia example will also show that public funds will be
spent for the benefit of the people, and not as a prerogative for the
advantage of the government or the benefit of public officials.”

“SERAP also urges you to consider banning spending on generators in the
presidency, and cutting spending on items like furniture and fittings,
refreshments, catering services and purchase of kitchen and household
equipment.”

“As the government prepares to finalise the proposed amendment to the
2020 budget, we urge you to immediately impose ban on the purchase of
new cars by the presidency, and to encourage the National Assembly and
the 36 state governors to do the same, and to ensure that public funds
are used for the benefit of the public.”

“SERAP remains concerned that several state governments are failing to
pay workers’ salaries, and that the Federal Government is failing to pay
pensioners’ entitlements.”

“This is a clear violation of the right to work recognized under article
6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
to which Nigeria is a state party. The right to work is essential for
realizing other human rights and forms an inseparable and inherent part
of human dignity.”

“According to reports, Namibia’s president Hage Geingobon on Thursday
imposed a five-year ban on buying new cars for top politicians and
government officials from buying new cars in order to redirect the funds
to fight COVID-19 in his country.”

“This presidential directive is expected to save the country some 200
million Namibian dollars (US$10.7 million), which would then be directed
to “to urgent priorities, specifically at a time when the country is
dealing with the health and economic implications of COVID-19.”

“We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your actions in
acting to ensure and promote the public interest and the common good in
public spending.”